"After 37 years in broadcasting, I'm just looking to do something different," said Gray, 59, who leaves WCPO-TV Friday after 23 years as main anchor, and as arguably the most high-profile African-American in Cincinnati TV history.

"I want to spend more time with my wife and (7-year-old) daughter."

That explains everything.

After 33 years on TV here – he did two stints at WLWT-TV (1979-83; 1985-90) before jumping to Channel 9 – he's tired of working nights and breaking news nuking his schedule.

"I won't miss the hours. I won't miss covering snow storms, or having to drive home late at night after a deep snow storm, like I had to do this year," said Gray, who lives in Hebron.

In 1997, WCPO-TV news anchor Clyde Gray told young black male students at Hughes Center to use their brains to get ahead in life during the Brothers Back to School event sponsored by the National Association of Black Journalists. (Photo: Glenn Hartong / File)

The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati held the "How I Became a Pirate" Family Gala at the Taft Theater in 2010. Jack Louiso, artistic director of the Children's Theatre of Cincinnati poses for a picture with Kalena, Claire, 4, and Clyde Gray. (Photo: Thomas E. Smith)

The ninth annual "??Live on CET!"? fundraising gala in 2013 was broadcast live on CET. Master of Ceremonies, WCPO-TV's Clyde Gray, gives a brief summary about the contributions Buddy LaRosa has made to Cincinnati. (Photo: Joe Simon)

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In the early 1990s, Gray also did Channel 9 I-Team reports on rebuilt wrecked cars and the Mazak Corp. allegedly relabeling Japanese machine tools as "Made In The USA," which won a national Alfred I. duPont Award in 1993.

"At the end of my life, I don't want to remember how many newscasts I anchored, I-Team stories I did, or how many awards I won," Gray explained.

"I want to remember how many hugs I got from my daughter, and kisses from my wife, how many ball games (we attended), how many bed-time stories – all the things I can't do now," said Gray, who has two adult children from his first marriage.

Gray will devote his energy to Clyde Gray and Associates Public Relations Strategies, the agency he announced in February 2011 to the surprise of his Channel 9 bosses. At their request, he immediately "dialed back on my involvement to an investor," he said. Four years later, he doesn't even have an office.

"It's small. It's low-key. My job is to grow that business," he said.

Since announcing his departure on June, some African-Americans have expressed disappointment to him that he won't be on TV, "based on the feeling that I'm some sort of role model," he said. "I understand some people see my transition as a loss, but this change is about an opportunity for me, and re-inventing myself, and re-wiring."

Now for an update on our breaking news: Gray has been contemplating his future since last September, while recuperating from his second hip-replacement surgery with his family at home.

"I wrestled, and twisted it, and turned it over in my mind, and finally decided earlier this year (to leave Channel 9). At some point, this had to happen. I could wait to (age) 62 or 63, but that's not that far off now," said Gray, who turned 59 in June.

"This is not a retirement where I'll end up on the beach, looking over my toes at the ocean. It's a retirement from broadcasting. People say, 'You're too young to retire,' and I agree."

Gray is the latest to leave "9 On Your Side." The contracts of reporter Amy Wadas and meteorologists Larry Handley and Sarah Walters were not renewed in July. I-Team reporter Brendan Keefe, who has done some anchoring, heads to Atlanta Oct. 1.

Emmy watch: If Woody Harrelson wins a Prime-Time Emmy Monday (8-11 p.m, Channel 5/NBC), it would be his first since "Cheers" 25 years ago.

But the Lebanon High School graduate is a long shot to win best drama series actor for HBO's "True Detective," because he's up against co-star Matthew McConaughey, Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad"), Jon Hamm ("Mad Men"), Kevin Spacey ( "House of Cards") and Jeff Daniels ("The Newsroom"). "True Detective" also was nominated for best drama with "Breaking Bad," "Downton Abbey," "Games of Thrones," "House of Cards" and "Mad Men."

Harrelson won his only Emmy in 1989 for best supporting actor in a comedy and has been nominated six other times.

The Emmy Awards, which usually open the TV season in late September, air a month earlier on Monday this year due to NBC's Sunday night NFL games. Coverage starts at 4:30 p.m. with "Countdown to the Red Carpet" on the E! channel. ■